Snap-on bed skirt

ABSTRACT

A snap-on bed skirt provides an easily installed and removed rigid decorative covering for the sides of a box spring and extends to the floor. The skirt can be provided in a variety of fabrics, colors and styles, and can be quickly installed or removed. Depending upon the design and placement of the bed, two to four panels can be installed. These panels are carefully crafted for a snug and rigid fit on the box spring, but are made of flexible fabric from the upper edge of the box spring to the floor, to accommodate most bed frames. The corners of the panels would be fastened to each other with removable fasteners. The device would be supported vertically by tension, or optionally by supports located between the mattress and box springs, under the box springs, or on the bed frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/839,548, filed Jun. 26, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to bed furnishings and in particular toa snap-on bed skirt. With the limited storage space available inapartments, condominiums, and smaller homes, many people are using thespace beneath their beds for storage, but it is unsightly. Items storedbeneath the beds can be concealed with bed skirts, but an updatedversion of the bed skirt is not available to consumers. A snap-on bedskirt, that provides an easily installed and removed rigid decorativecovering for the sides of a box spring and extends to the floor, wouldresolve this problem inexpensively. The snap-on bed skirt provide aconvenient, affordable, and elegant alternative to the dusty old bedskirts of yesteryear, and could evolve with a child from the toddleryears to college. Two, three, or four easy-to-attach panels would beaffixed to the frame or box spring, and would be connected to each otherat the corners of the bed. Now the user can update the look of anytraditional bed while ensuring that “under the bed storage” isconcealed. Snap-on bed skirts can be provided in a variety of finishes,hand-painted designs, or covered with fabrics in various colors andstyles, and can be quickly installed or removed to update the look ofthe user's bedroom. Newlyweds and recent graduates may not be able toafford an expensive sleigh bed, but they can afford snap-on bed skirts.Users can update their beds as often as they'd like—there is no limit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a snap-on bed skirt. Thesnap-on bed skirt provides an easily installed and removed rigiddecorative covering for the sides of a box spring and extends to thefloor. The skirts can be provided in a variety of fabrics, colors andstyles, and can be quickly installed or removed. Depending upon thedesign and placement of the bed, two, three or four panels can beinstalled. These panels are carefully crafted for a snug and rigid fiton the box spring, but are made of flexible fabric from the lower edgeof the box spring to the floor, so as to accommodate most bed frames.The corners of the panels would be fastened to each other with removablesnaps, clips or other fasteners. The device would be supportedvertically by tension, or optionally by supports located between themattress and box springs, under the box springs, or on the bed frame.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitutea part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bed with the first exemplaryembodiment installed on the sides, displaying the side skirt panel 10,the box spring 12, the headboard 13, and the footboard 14.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a bed with the first exemplaryembodiment installed on the sides and the footboard, displaying the sideskirt panels 10, the footboard skirt panel 11, the box spring 12, theheadboard 13, the footboard 14, and the flexible fabric portion 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directedto a snap-on bed skirt. The snap-on bed skirt provides an easilyinstalled and removed rigid decorative covering for the sides of a boxspring and extends to the floor. The skirts 10 and 11 may be provided ina variety of fabrics, colors and styles, and can be quickly installed orremoved. Depending upon the design and placement of the bed, two, threeor four panels 10 and 11 may be installed. These panels 10 and 11 arecarefully crafted for a snug and rigid fit about the box spring, but aremade of flexible fabric 15 from the lower edge of the box spring to thefloor, so as to accommodate most bed frames.

The device consists of multiple rigid panels 10 and 11 designed toclosely fit around a box spring. The first exemplary embodiment consistsof two side skirt panels 10 and a footboard skirt panel 11. The secondexemplary embodiment consists of two side skirt panels 10, a footboardskirt panel 11, and a headboard skirt panel. Depending on the design ofthe bed frame, installation of the footboard skirt panel, and theheadboard skirt panel is optional, and may be facilitated with the sametype of snap, clips, or other fasteners or other closures used to securethe other corners of the panels 10 and 11. Specifically, such closuresmay be affixed either to each of the skirt panels 10-12, or to portionsof the bed frame such as the headboard 13 or footboard 14. The panelsare preferably twelve inches tall and run the full length of the bed.The device is provided in six sizes for the six standard bed sizes:twin, twin xl, full, queen, king, and California king size.

The device would preferably be supported vertically by tension.Optionally the device may be supported vertically by supports betweenthe mattress and box spring 12, supported under the box spring 12, orsupports located in the bed frame.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user secures the upper edgeof the side skirt panels 10 to the box spring 12, extending the loweredge of the side skirt panels 10 to the floor. The user may optionallysecure the footboard skirt panel 11 to the footboard, and then securethe lower end of each side skirt panel 10 to the footboard skirt panel11. The panels 10 and 11 may also be secured with supports between themattress and box spring 12, by supports under the box spring 12.

To use the second exemplary embodiment, the user secures the upper edgeof the side skirt panels 10 to the box spring 12, extending the loweredge of the side skirt panels 10 to the floor. The user may thenoptionally secure the footboard skirt panel 11 to the footboard, andthen secure the lower end of each side skirt panel 10 to the footboardskirt panel 11. The user may then optionally secure the headboard skirtpanel to the headboard, and then secure the upper end of each side skirtpanel 10 to the headboard skirt panel. The panels 10 and 11 may also besecured with supports between the mattress and box spring 12, bysupports under the box spring 12.

The side skirt panels 10, footboard skirt panel 11, and headboard skirtpanel would preferably be manufactured from rigid, durable materialssuch as high-impact plastic, wood, steel, and aluminum. The panels maybe painted, decorated with hand-painted designs, or otherwise finishedwithout covering, or they may be covered with flexible, durable fabricssuch as cotton, wool, cotton-rayon blend, cotton-polyester blend, ornylon.

Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable,but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materialscould be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understandand appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, andequivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. Theinvention should, therefore, not be limited by the above describedembodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methodswithin the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A snap-on bed skirt system comprising: (a) a plurality ofrigid bed skirt panels; (b) each of said plurality of rigid bed skirtpanels being of a length appropriate to cover one edge of a box spring;(c) each of said plurality of rigid bed skirt panels being releasablyaffixable to any of the group of another of said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels, a headboard, or a footboard; (d) said plurality of rigidbed skirt panels being configured so as to be releasably securable aboutsaid box spring; whereby the edges of said box spring may be covered bysaid plurality of rigid bed skirt panels.
 2. The snap-on bed skirtsystem of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of rigid bed skirtpanels has a flexible fabric portion attached such that said flexiblefabric portion may hang down below said box spring.
 3. The snap-on bedskirt system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rigid bed skirt panelsis four in number, and wherein each of said plurality of rigid bed skirtaffixes to two of the others of said plurality of rigid bed skirtpanels.
 4. The snap-on bed skirt system of claim 3 wherein each of saidplurality of rigid bed skirt panels has a flexible fabric portionattached such that said flexible fabric portion may hang down below saidbox spring.
 5. The snap-on bed skirt system of claim 1 wherein saidplurality of rigid bed skirt panels is three in number and comprises twoside skirt panels and one footboard skirt panel, and wherein each ofsaid two side skirt panels is releasably securable to a headboard and tosaid footboard skirt panel.
 6. The snap-on bed skirt system of claim 5wherein each of said plurality of rigid bed skirt panels has a flexiblefabric portion attached such that said flexible fabric portion may hangdown below said box spring.
 7. The snap-on bed skirt system of claim 1wherein said plurality of rigid bed skirt panels is two in number andcomprises two side skirt panels, and wherein each of said two side skirtpanels is releasably securable to a headboard and to a footboard.
 8. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality ofrigid bed skirt panels has a flexible fabric portion attached such thatsaid flexible fabric portion may hang down below said box spring.
 9. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels is sized to accommodate a standard bed size.
 10. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels is sized to accommodate a standard bed size.
 11. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels is sized to accommodate a standard bed size.
 12. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels is sized to accommodate a standard bed size.
 13. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 5 wherein said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels is sized to accommodate a standard bed size.
 14. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 6 wherein said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels is sized to accommodate a standard bed size.
 15. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 7 wherein said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels is sized to accommodate a standard bed size.
 16. Thesnap-on bed skirt system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of rigid bedskirt panels is sized to accommodate a standard bed size.